Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Culture

Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (known as DBCIC or Don Bosco Museum) in Mawlai, Shillong (celebrated across cultural anthropology as Asia's largest indigenous museum, housed in a striking 7 storey hexagonal building designed by Salesians of Don Bosco, world famous for its 17 thematic galleries showcasing all eight Northeast Indian states, Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim, through life size dioramas, traditional costumes, weapons, agricultural tools, handwoven textiles, musical instruments, and a thrilling rooftop Skywalk over Shillong), located in Mawlai in Shillong in Meghalaya, stands as Northeast India's ultimate cultural landmark.

Rising prominently above Sacred Heart Theological College in Mawlai, DBCIC works as a premier research center and dynamic living repository dedicated to documenting and preserving indigenous tribal identities across Northeast India.

It's the home of the life size tribal manikins representing over 100 indigenous communities in authentic handcrafted attire, the Weapons Gallery featuring ceremonial headhunting swords and cane shields, the Language and Music Galleries equipped with interactive audio recordings of tribal folk songs, the rooftop Skywalk where visitors walk above the city with sweeping mountain vistas, and an intensely peaceful, deeply educational museum atmosphere filled with cultural pride and intellectual discovery.

It represents a rich Northeast indigenous anthropology apex, tribal textile documentation, and cultural tourism where 17 thematic galleries, life size dioramas, rooftop skywalks, and Shillong city circuits unite in Don Bosco Centre.

Located in Mawlai Phlang Mawkpat along Church Road in northern Shillong, it sits 4 km north of Police Bazar, 28 km from Shillong Airport (Umroi, SHL), 96 km from Guwahati Railway Station (GHY), 14 km from Elephant Falls, and 12 km from Umiam Lake, easily reached in 15 minutes by local taxi or town bus.

The 17 Thematic Galleries & 8 Northeast States

The museum is systematically arranged across seven vertical levels, housing galleries dedicated to Land and People, Agriculture, Traditional Living, Costumes and Ornaments, Weapons, Musical Instruments, Religion and Culture, and Art.

Each gallery features authentic artifacts collected directly from indigenous elders, providing deep insights into the rituals, folklore, and daily life of tribes across the Seven Sisters and Sikkim.

Truth is, spending a couple of hours exploring these 17 meticulously curated galleries will teach you more about Northeast India's rich tribal diversity than weeks of reading.

The Rooftop Skywalk & Research Archives

The Iconic Skywalk: The crown jewel of the hexagonal structure is the rooftop Skywalk, an elevated metal catwalk circling the 7th floor that rewards visitors with sweeping 360 degree vistas of the Shillong skyline and pine clad hills.

Library & Cultural Research: The institute houses an extensive specialized research library containing rare manuscripts, anthropometric records, and documentary films on endangered tribal dialects.

DBCIC Cultural & Shillong City Day Tour Plan

The Complete Shillong Cultural Circuit: Morning visit to Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures in Mawlai (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM: tour all 17 galleries & walk the rooftop Skywalk) -> traditional lunch at Police Bazar -> afternoon stroll at Ward's Lake (2:00 PM to 3:30 PM) -> drive to Elephant Falls (4:00 PM to 5:30 PM: explore three tiered cascade) -> sunset tea overlooking Umiam Lake (6:00 PM to 7:15 PM).

Visitor Facilities & Guidelines: An elevator provides access to all seven floors; photography inside exhibition galleries requires a nominal camera permit; touching delicate wax dioramas is strictly prohibited.

After immersing in the rich tribal heritage of Don Bosco Centre, visit Ward's Lake, tour Elephant Falls, or explore Umiam Lake.